Watch Out! 5 Cloud Web Hosting Myths That Still Haunt Us

Tag Archives: cloud hosting

Everyone wants to use “the cloud” nowadays. In terms of hosting, it means that your data won’t be hosted on a single (dedicated or shared) server. The hosting will be provided on virtual servers that pull their resources from underlying networks of physical web servers. It’s hard for someone without previous knowledge to understandwhat cloud hosting actually is, but the word cloud itself makes it look more appealing.

To achieve a better understanding of the concept, you need to learn what three other terms mean:

1. Shared hosting means that you rent space and processing capacity on a server that other websites may also use.

2. Dedicated hostingmeans that you rent or own one or more servers at the data center of your host, and you’re the only one who uses them.

Now, the fact that cloud became a buzzword creates tons of misunderstandings. Bloggers throw in the world too frequently, so they dilute the line between VPS and cloud hosting. Before you start considering cloud hosting for your website, it’s important to be aware of the myths surrounding that concept. We’ll help you with that. These are the most common 5 myths that are confusing people about cloud hosting:

2. Cloud Server and VPS Servers Are the Same Things

The cloud server is virtual. It’s also private. And it’s a server. So it’s VPS. These two terms can be used interchangeably, right? Wrong! That’s just a myth.

Cloud hosting is VPS hosting in a way, but it spreads your resources across a number of shared machines. With VPS, you get your own partitioned server that you can customize according to your needs. A cloud server may be called a VPS server but we cannot identify VPS with the cloud.

Let’s make it clearer:

– With cloud hosting, you rent a small portion of a huge network of powerful machines connected to one another. It’s a more complex configuration, where the user has less control over the hosting parameters.

– In VPS hosting, one dedicated server is separated into multiple servers, and each of them works as a dedicated server. Your portion is isolated, and your data is being stored in a centralized location. That’s different from the cloud.

2. Cloud Servers Don’t Suffer from Downtime

This is the myth that attracts most people towards cloud hosting. Many believe it since cloud hosts advertise their “high availability” features. However, you should be aware of the fact that these features work only if the data is still available. Failures of storage area networks are quite common on cheap cloud hosting solutions, so you’ll practically be lost.

Remember: not all cloud hosts work in the same way. Although they have less dependency on real hardware, failures may still occur, especially with the cheapest options. So don’t allow yourself to be tricked by the cloud craze. Get well informed before you choose your hosting!

3. Everyone Should Get on the Cloud

Daniel Rogers, IT lead specialist atBest Dissertation, explains: “In fact, I believe that the needs of most websites are covered by shared, dedicated, or VPS hosting. If you’re already using a VPS option and you’re pretty happy with it, there’s absolutely no need to switch to cloud hosting just because it sounds fancy.”

– If you have less than 30,000 visitors per month at your website, shared hosting is the ideal option for you. It’s enough for small companies and personal users that don’t have high demands, and it’s the most affordable choice they have. You can get this type of hosting with prices starting at only $4.95.

– Dedicated hosting is recommended for websites that generate a lot of traffic (100,000+ monthly visitors), as well as for those that need a lot of storage and RAM. It’s the most expensive option, but it meets the needs of the most demanding clients.

– VPS hosting is the mid-range hosting type, and it’s the most suitable option for websites that fall somewhere in between. It’s a truly affordable option that gives you tons of potential.

The truth is, if you find one of these options suitable for your needs, you don’t really need to go through all the trouble of making the change. We at Altushost offer the options of shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting. These three alternatives cover the needs of most types of websites.

4. The Cloud Is More Reliable

This can be true if you’re comparing a good cloud hosting option with a bad VPS hosting option. In most cases, however, it’s a total myth.

First and most important of all, you should remember that the cloud is just a buzzword that creates the impression of reliability. In fact, there are many variables that determine the reliability: the hypervisor, hardware, failover protocols, type of storage, and more.

In theory, cloud hosting should minimize your risk of downtime. However, keep in mind that a cloud hosting provider can go down. And when it goes down, it really does.

You Pay a Smaller Price For Cloud Hosting

This option is attractive for website owners because it often comes with hourly billing. That interesting flexible payment method allows you to pay as much as you’re using.

However, there’s a big drawback that comes with this payment setting: unexpected charges. When you pay a standard price for your hosting package, you know exactly how to plan your budget. When you pay for what you use, your website might use more resources than you thought it would, so you’ll be making much higher payments than planned.

Can cloud hosting be beneficial for your website? Sure, if you choose wisely. Does everyone need it? No. It’s important to get informed about your options and choose the perfect one for your specific needs. That should be your main focus.

About the author: Steven Wesley is creative writer interested in public relations, educational, technological, and political issues. Besides, Steve believes in the mighty power of the pen to change the modern world. Meet him on Twitter and Facebook.